Hard top wind noise

[Deleted member 18624]

My JLUR suddenly developed a whistling noise when I get over 40 mph. I reseated the freedom panels to make sure they were installed correctly. I have had them off several times. That didn't resolve the issue. I checked the 4 windshield bolts and both corners had worked themselves loose. I tightened them back down and I will check it on my way home from work to see if that was the cause. The 2 center bolts were still tight but the corners were loose by a couple of turns. I hope it was just the loose bolts causing my loud whistling.

My Jeep has been at the service department for the last 3 weeks with the same "whistle" from the front windshield.

The service advisor said they had ordered some trim pieces and were planning to remove the windshield.

I'd be really upset to find out it was just a couple of loose bolts

Sponsored

 

[TXRobD]

My Jeep has been at the service department for the last 3 weeks with the same "whistle" from the front windshield.

The service advisor said they had ordered some trim pieces and were planning to remove the windshield.

I'd be really upset to find out it was just a couple of loose bolts

I think there is less whistling now but it still whistles after I tightened the windshield bolts.

 

[jstew182]

I think there is less whistling now but it still whistles after I tightened the windshield bolts.

I had this issue but mine happened anytime I was driving over 25mph. After the second trip to the dealer trying to get them identify the problem and fix it, it seems to be solved for over a month now. Apparently when the factory installed the windshield the seal was bad and they had to remove my windshield and reseal it. Hope this helps.

 

[jlroman2]

I finally took the windshield down but noticed that's a bit louder than usual (I always had the cross wind noise) now that it is back up. How tight are the bolts supposed to be?

 

[muskynut]

I checked mine, 3 were tight, the 4 far passenger side was loose, i mean rattling loose, tightend it up, noe driving at 75 mph no noise.

 

[seguerski]

I too have noticed what seemed to be higher than expected levels of wind buffeting/static/crackle with my JLU Sport S hard top. Looking over TSBs for noises, I saw the one indicating foam at bottom of windshield may be folded, so I took the windshield down today. I noticed that FCA must be aware of something, as there was spray-foam in the corners right by the speaker, but not enough to actually seal anything (one section of spray-foam was dislodged and was just laying there when I lowered windshield):

I had some foam padding laying around, so I crammed it in as seen here:

I then, used some of my own spray-foam to fill in any gaps smaller than I could cram foam into:

Finally, I made sure all weatherstripping was even and positioned correctly on both sides.

Official road test will happen tomorrow as I left the front panels off after putting windshield and wipers back.

 

[viper88]

I will report back...I asked my dealer about the acoustical windshield and they said the jlus and rubicon has acoustical glass. I'm convinced the sound is coming from the seals around window/door or windshield. You?

I asked Jeep Cares about the Acoustic windshield. They confirmed and re-confirmed ALL JLs have Acoustic windshields now. They said they reconfirmed after I questioned them. ALL model JLs have it.

 

[Wfd1244]

I too have noticed what seemed to be higher than expected levels of wind buffeting/static/crackle with my JLU Sport S hard top. Looking over TSBs for noises, I saw the one indicating foam at bottom of windshield may be folded, so I took the windshield down today. I noticed that FCA must be aware of something, as there was spray-foam in the corners right by the speaker, but not enough to actually seal anything (one section of spray-foam was dislodged and was just laying there when I lowered windshield):

I had some foam padding laying around, so I crammed it in as seen here:

I then, used some of my own spray-foam to fill in any gaps smaller than I could cram foam into:

Finally, I made sure all weatherstripping was even and positioned correctly on both sides.

Official road test will happen tomorrow as I left the front panels off after putting windshield and wipers back.

Keep us posted on your findings!

 

[Wfd1244]

I asked Jeep Cares about the Acoustic windshield. They confirmed and re-confirmed ALL JLs have Acoustic windshields now. They said they reconfirmed after I questioned them. ALL model JLs have it.

So the early model JLs didn’t have the acoustic glass? Mine was built in December 2017.

 

[viper88]

So the early model JLs didn’t have the acoustic glass? Mine was built in December 2017.

Not sure? They should have "acoustic" stamped on them. Initially I thought I read only certain models had it. I had them re-confirm which they did. Jeep Cares re-confirmed ALL models, Sport, Sport S, Sahara, Rubicon, all have it. Hopefully their info is correct.

 

[Wfd1244]

Not sure? They should have "acoustic" stamped on them. Initially I thought I read only certain models had it. I had them re-confirm which they did. Jeep Cares re-confirmed ALL models, Sport, Sport S, Sahara, Rubicon, all have it. Hopefully their info is correct.

It does say acoustic after looking at the fine print!

 

[viper88]

It does say acoustic after looking at the fine print!

That's it.

 

[seguerski]

Keep us posted on your findings!

Sound levels decreased, but not gone... Going back to the drawing board on this to better isolate what needs to happen.

 

[J.R.]

Let me start off by saying this is my 7th Wrangler and 5th with a hard top, and no other Wranglers over the years have had the wind noise this one does. After reporting my wind noise issues to the dealer (sounds like the window is slightly open, starts at 40 mph and increases to seriously annoying levels as speed increases, the stereo has to be turned up to 22 to drown out the wind noise), they applied the 'Star Update' that replaces the lower foam pieces.

The noise was not coming from the lower part of the windshield and after inspecting the foam myself before bringing it in I saw no issues, so naturally it didn't help.

The dealer told me there was nothing more they would do because FCA doesn't have any further direction. I opened a case with FCA, they informed me that the star case for the lower foam was only applicable to one customer who reported wind noise and they would get in touch with the dealer to see if they could have them troubleshoot further. When the dealer refused, FCA contacted me and told me that FCA engineers said that the wind noise is acceptable in Jeep Wranglers and it is part of the design and FCA refuses to address the matter any further.

In software terms we say "It isn't a bug, it's a feature". So basically FCA has designed the wind noise into the JL Wranglers. They should list that on the window sticker as part of the standard package.

My advice is if you are going to purchase a hardtop Wrangler in the future, make sure you take it out on the highway and listen for excessive wind noise. If the unit has the noise, keep driving different ones until you find one that doesn't have the noise, because it will not go away, it cannot be fixed (no one has found a solution), and FCA refuses to acknowledge it is a problem and will do nothing to assist you.

So now I drive a vehicle that I love and hate at the same time.

 

[WranglerMan]

Mine has wind Boise on the passenger side mostly and sometimes on the driver side but not bad, I have had my freedom panels out and in dozens of times and checked and lubed all seals with 303 and it still is there, no worst and no better so my next step is to lower the windshield and see what the seals look like behind it and see if there is any foam missing or I can maybe possibly add.

Sponsored